Letters
LETTERS
Crazy for classics
Cycle World's article on bargain classics (“Second Coming: Japan’s Collectible Classics,” December, 1991) really hit home with me. I’m 40 and have been riding bikes since the eighth grade, beginning with an old Honda 90. Currently, my wife rides a Honda Pacific Coast and I ride a Kawasaki ZX-10, but I recently located a 1976 Honda CB750F in a barn in Indiana, where it had been sitting for three years. I bought it, put fuel in it, fired it up and rode 135 miles back home. It’s now my winter restoration project. I love my ZX, but this spring it will be great to cruise on my like-new CB750F and remember the simpler days of 15 years ago.
For many of us, these bikes are our motorcycling roots, and I’m pleased to see a motorcycle magazine recognize this.
Mike Hagan
Woodridge, Illinois
I was right in the middle of my restoration project last week, polishing the engine of my 1967 Honda Super Hawk, when my son wandered out to the shop, muttering something in teenage language. By the time the words “article” and “Super Hawk” fell from his lips, I was running to the house as fast as a 42-year-old might dare. It took me only seconds to locate the Cycle World magazine. After reading about Dreams, Scramblers, Super Hawks and Benly SS racers in “Second Coming,” I couldn’t help but think back to my junior high school days when I would sit in Math class, and the only thing having to do with numbers that I could get inspired about was the newly announced six-cylinder 250 Honda GP bike and the unbelievable rpm its engine produced.
While I’m thrilled that these bikes are getting the recognition they deserve, I am concerned about the rapid rise in prices brought on by wealthy investors abroad. I suppose it’s all part of the game, but I’m afraid I won’t be able to locate and restore that highly sought-after Benly 125 SS.
Anyway, please keep up the excellent work, and please keep publishing articles on vintage bikes.
Richard Grissinger Jacksonville, Florida
I enjoyed your “Second Coming” article. When I was a youngster, my father started riding a Yamaha 55cc step-through, followed by a Yamaha YA125 Santa Barbara. A friend of his who rode a BSA 650 was always badgering him for riding “toys.” My dad countered with a ‘65 Yamaha YDS-3, and blew the BSA into the weeds. The man promptly sold the Beezer and bought a Suzuki X-6 Hustler.
I’ve been away from the sport for about six years now, but still like to keep up with it through Cycle World. Thanks for the memories, and for including some nice rides from the past in your monthly story mix.
David A. Wright Trona, California
Jon F. Thompson’s “Second Coming” article was interesting. I would like to respond to several points, however.
First, the article did not sufficiently emphasize that sales of Super Hawks in the four-figure range are rare— and the British $15,000 price for a mint example is so extraordinary as to be breathtaking. I strongly suspect that most U.S. Japanese-classic collectors would snicker themselves silly at a Super Hawk advertised at much more than $2000, even one that was pristine.
Secondly, a response to the statement that “Restoration will be easy and relatively cheap.” Unless a buyer is exceptionally lucky, the average $250 mid-’60s Honda will require complete frame-up restoration. By the time you get done paying $100 for sandand beadblasting, $350 for painting and powder-coating, $300 to have the engine gone through, $200 for mufflers, $100 for rechroming and at least $100 in miscellaneous parts, you’ll have $1400 sunk into the machine before you consider a dime for your time and labor. This for a bike that you will be doing well to sell for $1500.
That notwithstanding, let’s see more retrospectives on these great bikes.
Richard J. Sulik Davenport, Iowa
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The "Second Coming" story was of particular interest to me because I own a 1966 Honda Dream 150, which is in mint condition with 3500 origi nal miles. My bike wasn't mentioned in the article, however, and I would like to know if it is considered a col lectible. If so, how much is it worth?
Robert Bellassai Howard Beach, New York
As mentioned in the story, the most knowledgeable source of information on classic Japanese bikes is the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club, 146 Fallingbrook Dr., Ancaster, Ontario, Canada L9G 1E6.
Why did you have to show that picture of a 1967 Bridgestone 35OGTR? I owned one when I was in high school (I'm now 41). Years ago, a friend pushed his `69-model GTR into the back of his garage, where it's sat ever since. Now, he wants to sell it for $50, and I'm buying. It's all complete, but the gearbox jumps out of gear. Where can I get parts?
Kenneth Griffith Tallahassee, Florida
Try contacting the VJMC at the address listed above.
On behalf of the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club, I would like to thank Cycle World for the various arti cles in the December issue on collect ing older Japanese bikes. Judging by the response since the stories ap peared, there are still a lot of collec tors out there who haven't heard of us.
I would, however, like to correct a couple of points. The club is not "based" in Ontario, Canada, as you reported. It started in the U.S. 15 years ago and has grown to four branches with more than 2000 mem bers. The largest branch is now actu ally in the United Kingdom, with about 60 percent of the total. It just happens that the current newsletter editor (me) and the membership sec retary for the North American branch both live in Ontario.
I would also like to draw attention to several omissions in your list of collectible classics. Kawasaki's 250cc Samurai and 350cc Avenger started that company's performance image. Early examples (1966-68) are most sought after. Good examples are easily worth as much as a Super
Hawk. Suzuki fans will undoubtedly be disappointed to find no mention of the 500cc Titan or 750cc Le Mans. The latter is particularly significant for its liquid-cooling, and both are durable, though more popular with European than North American collectors.
John Armstrong Nepean, Ontario, Canada
Dissenting opinion
Collectible Japanese motorcycles? Get real!
William A. Shroyer Encinitas, California
Mr. Honda
I enjoyed Kevin Cameron's article on the life of Soichiro Honda. His career is an example of what can be accomplished by a poor man if he has a dream and keeps pursuing it. It was interesting to note that Mr. Honda's first mass-produced bike in 1949 had an upside-down fork and a perimeter-style frame.
Tom Sullivan Memphis, Tennessee
Thanks so much for Peter Egan's article on the passing of Mr. Honda. Peter expressed beautifully what so many of us felt.
I, too, was drawn to the man's genius by the swoopy curves of a Benly 125's front fender, by the whir of its over head cam, by its lightly muffled, barely respectable exhaust note. Yes, Mr. Honda took us all on a journey, and set examples along the way. Follow them fans, his were worthy goals.
Gordon King Charleston, South Carolina
Vonda's Honda
I recently broke up with my girl friend Vonda. Woe is me. I even had "Joe & Vonda" pinstriped on the tour trunk of my 1989 Gold Wing. Now, I'll have to change the "&" to an "s" and "V" to an "H" to say "Joe's Honda." I'm glad her name wasn't Elizabeth, and at least I didn't get "Vonda" tattooed on my arm. I haven't changed the pinstriping yet; do you know any girls named Wonda or Ronda?
Joe DeJournette Yakima, Washington
Cheer up, Joe, things could be worse. Think of the problems if you'd been dating Varley-Vavidson.
